Echocardiogram

When an echocardiogram is used

An echocardiogram can help diagnose and monitor certain heart conditions by checking the structure of the heart and surrounding blood vessels, analysing how blood flows through them, and assessing the pumping chambers of the heart.

An echocardiogram can help detect:

damage from a heart attack where the supply of blood to the heart was suddenly blocked
heart failure where the heart fails to pump enough blood around the body at the right pressure
congenital heart disease birth defects that affect the normal workings of the heart
problems with the heart valves problems affecting the valves that control the flow of bloodwithin the heart
cardiomyopathy where the heart walls become thickened or enlarged
endocarditis an infection of the heart valves

An echocardiogram can also help your doctors decide on the best treatment for these conditions.

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018

Articles for echocardiogram

Introduction

Read about echocardiograms, including why they're done, what happens during the test, and what the risks are.

When an echocardiogram is used

Howan echocardiogram iscarried out

There are several different ways an echocardiogram can be carried out, but most people will have what's known as a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE). This procedure is outlined below. You won't usua

Getting your results

In some cases, it may be possible for the person carrying out the scan to discuss the results with you soon after it's finished. However, the images from the scan will usually need to be analysed bef

Are there any risks or side effects?

A standard echocardiogram is a simple, painless and safe procedure. There are no side effectsfrom the scan, although the lubricating gel may feel cold and you may experience some minor discomfort when

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